On Site Spraying – Safety On The Job

When working on site, we often have to think about the health and safety of our employees. Here at CJ Coatings, we operate a number of strict rules our teams have to go by to ensure there are no risks to them or others when they are working, so here we are going to tell you about safety on the job.

Why do you need safety on the job?

Sometimes people can get carried away and not think about the health and safety risks they could potentially be causing themselves or others they work with. Unfortunately when it comes to spraying most paints can be classed as a hazardous substance as they can be inhaled and potentially hurt your skin. Throughout this article, we are going to tell you how you can reduce your exposure to the paint and make your workplace a safer environment.

Exposure to solvent vapours

Solvents in some respects are much like ethanol which can be found in alcohol. Alcohol acts as a depressant and can slow down your nerves and brain, solvents work in a similar way, and if inhaled it can disrupt your nervous system and muscles.

If consumed in large amounts it can often result in hallucinations, personality changes and distorted perceptions, many of these side effects are usually experienced over short periods of time. You can also encounter damage or irritation to the skin. More long-term side effects you may witness from solvent abuse include damage to internal organs such as lungs, kidneys, brain and liver. In more extreme cases this can actually cause severe problems such as heart attack and unexpected death.

There is a range of products you can purchase your sprayers to prevent them from being exposed to the mists. We also recommend that anyone within the spraying facility is also protected from exposure to vapours. You can purchase two types of vapour resistant face masks, one which only covers the mouth and nose which filters the small particles of dust, vapours and gases from Tool Station. There is also another alternative that protects both breathing and eyes from ProtecDirect.co.uk.

Restrict access

It may not always be possible, but you will want to prevent any unauthorised personnel from entering the spraying zone. The last thing you want to do is put anyone else in danger if you have large mechanical equipment around or spraying is in process. You will need to make the restricted area as noticeable as possible so we recommend looking at signs to put up around the area to stop people from entering, take a look at SafetySign.com for examples.

Protective clothing

We always have our guys fully clothed and covered during the spraying process meaning any exposed body parts such as arms and legs are covered at all times. This is to reduce the risk of paint coming into contact with their skin. Hooded overalls are a great way of covering employees skin and can be warn over their normal clothes, take a look at Protective Masks Direct. To cover hands we recommend PCPitchcare.com Nitrile Spraying Gloves, they have non-absorbent lining and have been treated with bactericide.

Lifting

In the spraying business, many of us at times will have to reach heights that may not be easy to get to. They will often require lifting equipment. If you are going to be using any mechanical lifting equipment, it is extremely that all staff have the right certificates to do so. You should not be letting any member of staff that has not been trained to use the equipment anywhere near it, not only are they a risk to themselves but also to other working with them. All of the CJ Coatings team have had the LEEA training.

When employs are being lifted, you must also ensure they are harnessed and have the relevant safety gear such as helmets. Over the years we have witnessed many people being tied with a rope when on the roof of a building or at height. This is simply just not safe enough, get a safety harness kit from SafetyLiftinGear.com.

Health and safety

Many industries will require their staff to take health and safety causes; it is critical that all staff members do this. CJ Coatings has received a CHAS Certificate of Accreditation which shows that we have demonstrated compliance with sound management of health and safety legislation.

Carry out regular risk assessments when attending new sites, this doesn’t have to be a time-consuming task but can help assess whether there are any potential dangers to your employees. You want to identify any measures that can be made to keep anyone safe while carrying out on site spraying.

Have the right risk control measurements in place; you have to make sure these are adequate and are used. You will also have to ensure all employees are trained in basic first aid in case of an emergency.

Ensure you report and record any accidents. You will also need to ensure your business has the right insurance, in any case of injury to members of staff you want to ensure they are covered by insurance.

Summary

Ultimately as a business owner, you want to minimise the risk to your employees as much as possible. By having the right training and precautions in place, you will hopefully be doing just that. You need to take the time to think about purchasing the right protective clothing for when they are on the job as solvent vapours can have a significant impact on their health and wellbeing both short term and long term. As well as protective clothing having the right qualifications can go a long way, not only is it beneficial for your team to know where to look for risks and dangerous situations it also shows your clients that you know exactly what you are doing.